What Most Employers Expect you to Know as a New Employee

 Once the afterglow of the job offer has passed and you’ve dived into your position at your new employer, you may be shocked at how much information an employer is going to assume you already possess. Even the employers with effective orientation programs, most expect employees to already understand multiple points regarding topics such as benefits, corporate policy, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and other standard fare. Be sure to know the following points to avoid falling victim to an ineffective indoctrination process and potentially harming your future with your new company.

1. Never ignore the established culture of your organization. This culture can include written rules—such as company laws, regulations, and history—and unspoken rules like cultural mores, office politics, and appropriate attire. One of the first steps in assimilating into your new environment is to learn the culture. As you are learning the ins and outs, work to imitate your coworkers or superiors while never striving to one-up anyone at their own game.

2. Abide by the established chain of command. Good managers are well-versed in their organizational culture and will no doubt take offense if you go over their head to present an idea without approval. More than likely, the level of management to which you report your idea will inform the layer you skipped over, i.e. your direct supervisor.

3. Be friendly with your supervisors, but not their friends. You work with them everyday so it is understandable that a certain level of familiarity will develop between you and your boss over time. But don’t expect to replace accountability with your friendliness. Your managers should be your mentors, which can involve corrective actions that may not be conducive to a personal friendship. Overlooking your needs in the workplace in the name of friendship is a disservice that can only harm you as you pursue your career aspirations.

4. Stay objective and remain outside of office politics. While every office develops its own system of politics, it is important to simply observe and understand the events in your office rather than participating in the trading of rumors and gossip. Banter with your coworkers, have lunch, and make friends, but never gossip or insult anyone in your workplace.

5. Work to collect a number of mentors, both inside and outside of your organization. Each manager has faced a unique set of trials and has developed a singular view of the professional world. These mentors can advise on how to improve yourself, work your way up the ladder, and introduce you to influential people who may facilitate reaching your career goals.

6. Be active in your workplace. While you don’t need to attend every office picnic or party, attending at least some functions lets you build less formal relationships with your coworkers and superiors. One exception is if you cannot control your drinking, in which case you should avoid attending office social functions.